The 2007 defense authorization bill confirms Congressional desire to keep a second engine program going for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, despite Pentagon objections. The authorization act requires DOD to keep two engines in development and procurement and to provide three separate and independent cost analyses of the JSF engine program. The measure slows somewhat advance procurement, citing program delays and concern over too rapid development. (The companion spending bill funds the alternate engine and advance procurement for 12 JSFs.)
Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach swore in as the 24th Chief of Staff of the Air Force on Nov. 3 and kept his focus simple in his first message to Airmen: the service’s first and foremost priority is to “fly and fix so we are ready to fight.”
